Fatigue Before and After Exercise in Patients With Advanced Cancer Stage

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Fatigue [ Time Frame: Baseline, 7 days, 14 days and 20 days after starting the intervention. ]

ESAS score and FACT-F questionnaire.

Original Primary Outcome Measures ICMJE (submitted: April 18, 2012)

Fatigue [ Time Frame: 4 weeks ]

Fatigue will be assessed by means of ESAS score and FACT-F questionnaire. The outcome will be measured 1 day before starting the intervention (exercises and walking), 2 weeks and 4 weeks after starting the intervention.

Quality of life [ Time Frame: Baseline, 7 days, 14 days and 20 days after starting the intervention. ]

EORTC QLQ-C30.

Anxiety and Depression Evaluation [ Time Frame: Baseline, 7 days, 14 days and 20 days after starting the intervention. ]

Anxiety & Depression Hospital Anxiety Depression scale (HADS)

Patient impression satisfaction [ Time Frame: Baseline and 7 days after starting the intervention ]

Satisfaction-PGIC.

Original Secondary Outcome Measures ICMJE (submitted: April 18, 2012)

Quality of life [ Time Frame: 4 weeks ]

Quality of life will be assessed by means of EORTC-QLQ-C30. This instrument produces a score (quantitative variable). Quality of life will be measured 1 day before starting the intervention, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after starting the intervention.

Current Other Outcome Measures ICMJE

Not Provided

Original Other Outcome Measures ICMJE

Not Provided

Descriptive Information

Brief Title ICMJE

Fatigue Before and After Exercise in Patients With Advanced Cancer Stage

Official Title ICMJE

The Use of Physical Activity to Control Fatigue and Improve the Quality of Life in Patients With Advanced Cancer Stage

Brief Summary

Fatigue related to cancer is the most common reported symptom and it prevents 91% of patients of having an active life, and in several cases, the fatigue persists for several months or even years after treatment. Fatigue does cause an impact in all dimensions of patients' quality of life and it is the main cause of reduction in patients' daily life activities.

Fatigue is reported by cancer patients in all phases of the illness as one of the most frequent symptoms, especially in cases presenting metastases.

In order to monitor fatigue, pharmacological and non-pharmacological techniques may be employed, such as physical activity. Physical exercise has shown positive results in mitigating fatigue improving cardiopulmonary functioning, physical capacity and patients' quality of life.

This study will assess the efficiency of physical activity upon controlling the fatigue and quality of life in patients with advanced stage of the disease at the end of 7 days using FACT-F subscale.

Detailed Description

Six minute walking test: a) Patients who walk a distance ≤ 300 meters in the 6-minute walk test will make a 10 minute walk once a day for 5 days for 4 weeks in a 30-feet long corridor located at the palliative care unit; b) Patients who walk 300-450 meters in the 6-minute walk test will make a 20 minute walk once a day for 5 days for 4 weeks in a 30-feet long corridor located at the palliative care unit; c) Patients who walk a distance less than 450 meters in the 6-minute walk test will make a 30 minute walk once a day for 5 days for 4 weeks in a 30-feet long corridor located at the palliative care unit.

Resistance exercise: Patient is assessed for the ability to use 1lb of dumbbell, if they are able to use easily then he has to use 2lb dumbbell. Dumbbell exercises during the first week are 10 repetitions, which will increase 10 repetitions per week, reaching a total of 40 repetitions on the last week. The exercises will be:

- shoulder flexion 0-180º;

- shoulder abduction and adduction;

- shoulder extension;

- elbow flexion;

- wrist flexion and extension;

Patients' will have monitored their blood pressure, heart/cardiac frequency ( 40-60% of HR RESERVE or 60-70% HR MAX) and oxygen saturation by way of a finger oximeter made by Digit and perceived effort = light sweating, increase HR and breathing. Daily walk in the Borg scale at the beginning, middle and end will be applied to evaluate the fatigue of the patient.